USA > Iowa > Monona County > History of Monona County, Iowa; containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 30
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Nathaniel C. Harlow, still a resident of Sherman. made a settlement iu 1865, coming here from Burt County, Neb.
Jason H. Morris came to the county the same year and settled in Sherman Township, where he resided for some years. He is now living in the village of ¿Whiting, where he is engaged in the hotel business. His son, Charles F., who came with him, is still a resident of the town.
James Carmody settled in Sherman Township. on section 16, in April, 1866. He is a resident of the town, at the present writing. With him came his fa- ther-in-law, Lewis Shiney and his family ; Augustus Shiney, Sr .: J. S. Richardson and family, Ira Mil- ler and family ; and Robert Crego and family. Lewis Shiney removed to Cook County, Dak., about t876; Robert Crego, went to Kansas about 1872, as did Mr. Richardson; and Ira Miller left for California in 1874 or 1875.
William Hopkins came to Monona County in 1866, and made a home on section 21, where he is still living, engaged in agricultural pursuits, having ·leveloped a fine farm.
William Silvers made his appearance in this county about the same time and for about two vears was engaged in farming and school teaching. after which he returned to his home in Ohio.
Iliram IJarlow came from Nebraska in 1867. an 1 made a settlement in Monona County, in the town of Sherman, where he died March 9, 1888.
John Blanchard, also the same year located in this township on his fine farm and has made it his home ever since.
S. Cunningham, a native of the North of Ire land, came to Sherman Township in 1867 anl settled on section 17. He is, at present. engaged in the hardware business in the village of Blencoe.
John Tryon, still a resident of the town, came here in October, 1867. from Oswego, N. Y., and
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purchased a farm on sections 5 and 7. In Oeto- ber, 1868, he removed thither with his family, a wife and three children, and has since made his home there.
John Glenn made a settlement in May, 1868, on section 8, where he now lives, and is engaged in carrying on the fine farm that he has opened up.
Thomas Kennedy, a worthy son of the "Emerald Isle," located in this township on the 6th of Febru- ary, 1870, on section 19. Here he made his home until summoned to " his chamber" in the silent halls of death, which took place Dec. 3, 1882. Mrs. Robert Glenn, nee Martha Kennedy, still a resident of the township, is his daughter.
William Tees, a resident of Sherman Township, dates his residence here from the fall of 1871, when having sought the shores of America he came at once to Monona County.
James Fleming, Jr., also made his appearance in in the town in the same year, and has lived there ever since.
Joseph J. Reynolds, arrived on the 22d day of July, the same year, settling on sections 3 and 4, where he now lives.
Thomas Duffy, in 1873, came to Sherman Town ship, where he settled on section 29, where he has remained most of the time since.
The same year James Nichols, who had been living just across the line in Harrison County since 1859, came to this township and made a home where he now resides.
Chester W. Daley located in Sherman Township during the year 1875, where he now lives.
Warner II. Peake came from Onawa to the town of Sherman in the spring of 1876 and engaged in the agricultural pursuits which he still follows.
The settlement of Benjamin F. Boutwell, a resi- dent of Sherman Township, was made in 1877.
Among the arrivals of the year 1878 in this town was Anthony Brown, who was for a time engaged in railroad work, but now keeps the leading hotel in Bleneoe.
Daniel Campbell, one of the county's best known citizens came here in 1880 and located in Sherman Township, where he still resides. He has been the representative of this district in the State Legisla- ture and the candidate for gubernatorial honors
on the Greenback Labor ticket, and is one of the most influential and honored citizens of the county. Thomas Bruen, now living upon section 31, also settled here the same year.
Charles H. Cobleigh came to this town and made a settlement in 1880 on his farm on seetions 17 and 18, where he still lives.
The settlement of Byron D. Persons, one of the leading stock-raisers of the township, dated only from the year 1881. He was the manager of the Cary & Yeoman's Round Grove Stock farm, and died here May 14, 1889, his son, Robert 11 .. taking his place.
William 11. Bassett and his son, William D., set- tled in this subdivision of the county in 1884. The elder moved to Colorado in 1888, and the younger in 1889 bought the farm where he now lives.
Among the settlers in the county of the year 1885, was Sanford L. Welsh, who located on see- tion 28, where he now lives.
Elijah Peake removed from Onawa, where he had been living for some years, to this township in 1888, and has since made his home here.
Isaac Freeland came to Sherman Township and located on a farm in 1884. Two years later he removed to Onawa, where he now resides.
George A. Weish is mentioned as one of the settlers of the year 1885.
.Jolin Bagby, now living on seetion 25, was one of the earliest settlers of Harrison County, from which he removed to Sherman Township in 1885.
FIRST ITEMS.
The first religious services were held in an old log schoolhouse in distriet No. 1, in the winter of 1866, at which time a religious revival was held under the administration of Elder Collins.
The first frame schoolhouse in the township was erected by Peter Reily and Alva Jones, in the fall of 1866.
The first sod was broken by Aaron W. Cook in 1854, he ploughing up some nine acres. Robert Lindley was the next to break ground, opening some twenty acres. J. R. Thurston and Frank Richardson, were the third and fourth to open up the land in this township.
The first log house was that of Aaron W. Cook
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on section 7, erected in 1854. The second was put up by Robert Lindley and the third by James R. Thurston.
The first post-office was called;Bottom, and James R. Thurston was the first Postmaster. In the sum- mer of 1866, a petition was forwarded to the Gov- ernment asking for the location of an office. This bore the signatures of Jaines Carmody, J. R. Thurs. ton, N. B. Morris, Jason Morris, J. R. Richardson. Lewis Shiney, D. W. Wilson, Robert Lindley, Ira Miller, Isaac Davis, U. U. Comfort, John Bareus, Samuel Barcus, John Harris, Peter Reily, Rev. Mr. Grimes, and others. This office was continued un- til the village of Blencoe was founded, when it was removed to that place and the name changed
EDUCATIONAL.
The first school board in the district township was organized in the fall of 1866, at the house of -lanies R. Thurston, the first directors being Samuel Barcus, J. S. Richardson, and Robert Lindley J. R. Thurston was chosen treasurer and James Car- ! mody, clerk.
The first school house was erected that fall on section 7, in District No. 1. and in this William Marsh was the first teacher. Ile did not remain all the term, so the time was filled out by J. Funk. The latter was succeeded by William Silvers.
The first school in District No. 3, was held in a small emigrant house planted on the sand knolls on section 9, in 1866, Mrs. McCann being the teacher.
ORGANIZATION.
At the time of the reorganization of the county by the board of supervisors, April 3. 1866, a new township called Sherman was formed, embracing all of township 82, ranges 45 and 46, and a portion of range 44. By the same order Robert Lindley and John Barcus were made the judges of election in the new precinct, and D. Wilson and J. Morris, Jr., clerks. The first election was held at the school- house in District No. 3, at which Peter Reily was chosen supervisor.
GRANGE HALL.
next spring, under the inspiration of Ira Miller, one of its leading spirits, now in California, a pro- ject was set on foot for the erection of a hall. As the funds of the grange could not be diverted to this purpose, voluntary contributions were solicited and obtained and the building commenced. Be- fore its completion the cyclone of 1878 laid it in ruins upon the ground, but it was immediately re- erected and completed. In this buikling David Rees opened a general merchandise store, but as he did not operate it in accordance with the principles of the grange it was not taken under the anspices of that order. It was operated in principle with the grange but was not under the order. For some five years Mr. Rees carried on the business therein. at the expiration of which time the building was purchased by Peter Reily, who disposed of it to W. J. Davis. The latter named sokl it in turn to T. M. C. Logan and M. Murray, who converted it into an elevator and still own and operate it as such.
GOOD TEMPLARS' HIALL.
In the fall of 1877 a Good Templar's organiza- tion was effected in the township, which had at one time some 125 members, and which continued in operation for about two years. In the spring of 1878 they commenced the erection of a hall in which to hold their meetings, but just as they had the building enclosed the tornado of that year wrecked it completely, but it was soon re-erected. This stood on the northwest corner of section 16, about a mile and a half southwest of where Blen- coe is now located, and. was erected by a stock company within the order. Some malicious boys broke into the building and carried off all the rega- lia and paraphernalia of the lodge, which discour- aged the organization and it soon ceased to exist. The building was finally sokl to the Congregational Church society, who fitted it up for religious pur- poses. Late in the fall of 1879 a church festival was held therein, and fire being left in the stove, by some means the building was set on fire and totally destroyed.
BLENCOE.
In the spring of 1877 there was organized in Sherman Township a society known as Union The village of Blencoc is situated upon the Grange, No. 1919. Patrons of Husbandry. The southeast quarter of the northeast quarter and the
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northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of sec- tion 9, township 82. range 45. and was laid out in the summer of 1881 by the Missouri Valley Land Company. The plat of the same was filed for reeord September 23, 1881.
Previous to this, however, business had been transaeted at this point, Robert Crego opening a store on the site of the elevator in the fall of 1869. where the post-office was located.
David Rees opened a store in what was then the Grange Ilall in June, 1878, and carried on the bus- iness until 1882, when he sold out to Peter Reily.
James McFarlane opened a store here in 1879, west of the track.
The first store erected and opened in the newly laid out village after its survey, was put up by James McFarlane & Bro., a firm formed shortly be- fore by the admission of William McFarlane. This was in the spring of 1882. They opened in this building with a stock of general merchandise James was the first station and express agent and Postmaster. In 1888 the firm sold the building, stock and good will to E. M. Calef, who carried on the business until the spring of 1889, when he dis- posed of it to J. M. Carmody. The latter gentle- man occupied the building until late in the summer . when he removed to another room, and the old structure was and is occupied by Dr. L. E. St. John as a drug store.
The second store building was erected in the summer of 1883 by Cunningham & Grey, who, during that season opened therein a hardware, lum. ber and agricultural implement business, which they still carry on at the old stand.
Dr. L. E. St. John erected the next store build ing in the fall of 1884. He had come here the pre ceding spring and opened a drug store in a part of what is now the bank building, but on the comple- tion of his own quarters moved therein. In January, 1887, this edifice, together with the residences of C. A. Danforth and II. Harlow, was destroyed by fire. In the spring following the Doctor put up a. temporary building, and, having saved considera- ble of his stoek, recommenced business, taking in as partner C. A. Danforth. They put up at once a building 32x56 feet in size, two stories high, in which the firm carried on their business until the
spring of 1889, when they dissolved partnership, and the Doctor left the place, only to return later in the season. Mr. Danforth is still oceupying the store room, engaged in the grocery business, a part of the room being rented to C. H. Wheeler, who carries on the drug trade.
In March, 1885, II. C. Mosher and A. M. Noble, trading as Mosher & Noble, erected a building in which they opened up a full line of groceries, car- rying on in connection therewith a first-class meat market. In February of the following year Mr. Mosher purchased the interest of his partner, but two months later disposed of a half interest to R. HI. Persons. They ran the business for about a year together. when Mr. Persons sold out to Mr. Mosher, and the grocery business is carried on by the latter gentleman alone, the meat market branch of the business having been dropped after the first year of their business life.
l'eter Reily, who had purchased the old Grange Hall and the stock of David Rees, put up a new building in the village in August, 1885, and started out in the general merchandise business in which he is still successfully engaged.
The next building put up was the St. John and Danforth one spoken of above.
Logan & Murry, who had purchased and fitted up the old Grange Hall, turning it into an elevator, in 1887, commenced their business the same year. They put up an office and corn-cribs, also about the same time, the latter having a holding capacity of 150,000 bushels of corn. In 1888 the same firm put up their agricultural implement warehouse, which is 30x60 feet in size and well stocked.
In the summer of 1888 William Hoenstein com- menced the ereetion of a store building, but which, before completion was sold to F. Michealis, who, after finishing it, opened up therein with a stock of boots and shoes and groceries. He is still engaged in the same line of trade.
G. W. McEwen opened a meat market in the summer of 1888, but the following spring sold out to Reynolds & Odell, who have removed the building, have added to it and opened a lunch eounter also in addition to their other business.
HOTELS.
The first hotel in the place was opened in the fall
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of 1882, by Anthony Brown, who moved a small building to the site of his present edifice and therein cared for the wants of the weary traveler. In the spring of 1884, the necessities of the business de- manding an increase in the facilities for carrying it on, the proprietor moved the old building back on his lots, and erected the present structure in the front, . using the old one as a kitchen. This has, ever since its inception, been under the charge of its founder, Anthony Brown, who is still the owner and landlord.
The Commercial House, the building now used by William McFarlane as a bank, was erected in the fall of 1883, and opened as a hostelry by R. Wil- kinson. It was carried on as a boarding house and as a hotel until August, 1888, when it was purchased by Mr. McFarlane.
The Blencoe Bank was established in August, 1888, by the present owner, William McFarlane. It does a general banking business, deals in real estate and steamship tickets, makes abstracts of title, acts as agent for fire and tornado insurance, and as Notary Public.
The pioneer blacksmith shop was built and opened in 1883 by Jeremiah Belt, and was carried on by "that sturdy son of Vulcan" for about a year. After him it was run by Frank Caywood for a year. The latter moving away, the shop was purchased by Peter Reily, who hired a smith and in this way ran it for about twelve or thirteen months. The next proprietor was J. O. McElroy, who purchased it of Mr. Reily, and carried it on for abont a year and a half, and then sold out to the present proprietor, E. J. Severance.
DEPOT.
As early as 1878, the railroad placed a station here, bringing a small building on wheels from Whiting. for use as a depot. In 1884, after the company was solicited in vain for more suitable depot accomodations, William McFarlane and others got up a petition to the State railway com- missioners, praying for their interference. The latter, on investigation, finding that there was busi-
ness enough to warrant the same, ordered the erec- tion of a new depot, which was accordingly built the same year. This is 21x60 feet in size. and is a neat and comfortable building, one of the best on the line of railroad.
EDUCATIONAL.
For some years the education of the rising gen- eration was confined to the usual country school. but in the summer of 1885, the present buikdling was erceted, D. Grant, of Onawa, being the con- tractor. The edifice is 34×56 feet in size on the ground, 16 foot studding, and is surmounted with a neat cupola, in which hangs a mellow-toned bell, that calls the laggard each morning to his daily lessons.
CII'RCHES.
The Congregational Church was organized under the influence of Rev. C. N. Lyman of Onawa, in 1879, in the old Good Templars' Hall, and after- ward, for a time, held services in the schoolhouse. In 1880, they erected their church edifice west of the village, which was moved to the town site at a later date.
A Roman Catholic church was organized here in 1886 by Rev. Father Daly, and work on the build- ing in which they worship was commenced in the spring of the same year, and completed about the 1st of August following, William Marsh having charge of the work. This building is a neat one, and is 22x32 feet in size. Rev. Father Griffin, of Salix has charge of the church at the present writing. The first mass celebrated in the town was at the house of Peter Reily, by the Rev. Father MeLaughlin, a missionary priest, in 1866.
One of the industries of the town that deserves special mention, is the large dairy and cheese fac- tory belonging to Messrs. Yeomans & Cary, which is located about three miles southeast of the village. They carry some two to three hundred head of blooded cattle, and besides carrying large quantities of milk to supply the Sioux City market, manufac ture many hundred weight of cheese per month.
MAPLE TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XXIV.
YING on the north line of the county and the second from its castern boundary is the town of Maple. It embraces all of Con- gressional Township 85 north, range 43, and is bounded on the north by Woodbury County ; on the east by Cooper Township, on the south by the town of Center, while West Fork lies on the west. Having the full thirty-six sections it contains about 23,040 acres.
The surface is generally of a rolling character, slightly inore so than some of the others in the eastern part of the county, but just enough so as to need no irrigation and to properly drain off any superabundance of water. In fertility and produc- tiveness it is second to none in the county, the soil being a rich, warm loam, of the bluff deposit or loess, and contains a large percentage of decom- posed organic matter.
The Maple River, from which it derives its name, traverses its eastern portion, forming the far famed and beautiful valley that is the garden spot of Western Iowa, both for loveliness of view and agricultural wealth. This stream and several smaller affluents afford an ample drainage system and supply an abundance of running water for stock purposes.
The Manilla branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad and the Maple Valley division of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad traverse its territory, crossing one another at the enterpris- ing village of East Mapleton which lies on section 24, of this township.
The first to make a settlement in the township was William Il. Wilsey, who came here August 1, 1855, and located on sections It and 23, where he pre-empted a tract of 160 acres of land. Ilere he resided until the spring of 1876, when after a visit to Colorado he located in Harrison County. Four years later he came and made his home until 1882, when he removed to Little Sionx. Harri- son County, where he is now residing. He was one of the largest land owners of the county in his day and an important factor in the political life of the county. He was the pro- prietor of the town-site of "Old Mapleton," as it is called, was its postmaster and at one time mer- chant. Ilis son Nelson A. Wilsey, still a resident of the township, came with his father and has resided on the old homestead ever since,
William McCleery, one of the prominent men of to-day, came here in September, 1855, and set- tled on some land that he had entered the previous month. This was on section 34. and on it he has resided ever since. With him came his family, among whom was Aaron McCleery now an influ- ential farmer living on section 34. who was then a young man of sixteen years of age. Silas, John William and Frank, the other sons, are still resi- dents of this county.
During the same year Newton Mahaffy located on a piece of land on section 22, on coming to this county, and commenced to open up a farm. Shortly after he sold out his claim and, in company
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with W. H. Wilsey, started a saw mill. In 1858, he sold out again and left the county.
With Mr. Mahaffy eame his brother-in-law, Marvin Allison, who also took upaclaim upon sec- tion 22. Ile was a young, unmarried man at this time. About a year later he removed from here, going to Pilot Rock, Cherokee County.
The next to make a settlement in this township was Thomas Maynard and his family and Benjamin Wiggins, his nephew, who came here from Guthrie County, in the fall of 1855. After remaining at "Old Mapleton" all winter they settled on land they bought on section 23, where he lived until 1865, at which date Mr. Maynard sold his farm and moved to Cooper Township. In 1884 he re- moved to the Pacific Slope, and died in Union County, Ore., February 6, 1886.
At the same time came Esom Lee, who settled on the southern part of section 34, and opened up a fine farm. Ilere he remained, actively engaged in agricultural labors until about 1883, when he sold out his interests here, removing to Nebraska. With him came his brother, William Lee, familiarly known as "Jack-knife." He remained here but a short time and then removed to Camp Creek, Woodbury County, where he and his son froze to death in a blizzard while going after wood.
In 1856, also, James A. Scott, a well-known pioneer of those early days, came to this vicinity and, taking a liking to the look of the country, made a settlement here and was engaged in various avocations-farming, merchandising, ete., until the spring of 1866, when he removed to Missouri.
About the same time Theodore D. Kellogg made a settlement upon section 13 and essayed farming, a vocation to which he had not been trained nor was fitted. Having some means, not a common thing with the pioneers, he laid out a village upon his farm, to which he gave the name of St. George, a sketch of which is given later on. About 1859, after running through with the money he had brought with him and his pet scheme, the town of St. George dying, he returned to New York City where he is engaged in the grain and seed commis- sion business.
Henry and Abram Carter, two brothers from Ohio. settled here also in 1856. The latter died in
the county, at the residence of Dr. Ordway, in the spring of 1857. Henry sold out his interest here to W. II. Wilsey in 1861, and migrated to Colo- rado.
Bushrod Warren came to Monona County in 1856 and made a settlement on a piece of land on section 14, this township, where he took up a home and resided until ent down by death in the fall of 1864. He was the first Postmaster in the town.
David Harris, a native of Gates County, Ohio, was another of the pioneers of the year 1856. IIe came here with his family and died in this town in July, 1869. Of his children Thomas B. is a wagon-maker at Smithland; William Return is a farmer of Kennebec Township; Henry is residing on the Pacific Slope and Frank in Northwestern Nebraska. An adopted son, Daniel Sears. enlisted during the Rebellion in the Union army and is re- ported missing, his bones doubtless bleaching upon Southern soil.
In 1857 eame Hoyt Sessions, who journeyed to this county from Jackson County, this State. Ile took up a elaim on the site of East Mapleton, where he built a house and established his home. Some four or five years later he returned to the eastern part of the State. With him to this county eame Moses Sessions, his brother. The latter went to the mountains, subsequently, where he died.
An old gentleman by the name of Foote settled here, also, in 1857, and lived here abont two years and then removed to Guthrie County, this State. HIis son Charles, "the black sheep" in the family, drifted to Montana where he died suddenly.
Benjamin Davis, a carpenter by trade, located at St. George in 1858, and after living there for some three or four years moved to Esthierville, Emmet County, this State.
Amasa Briggs came to the valley of Mapleton in 1858 and remained a resident here until 1869 or 1870, when he removed to Missouri.
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